Electric-arc lamp



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. A. MOSHER.

ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

No. 539,877. Patented May 28, 1895.

M ma Y /////////////////A..// ,f Q

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. A. MOSHER.

ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

No. 539,877.- Patented May 28, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JOHN A. MOSHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

".EJICPECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,877', dated May2B, 1895.

Application tiled May l, 1893. Serial No 472,509. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be itknown that I, JOHN A. MosHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Arc Lamps, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of theoperating mechanism, the case being removed. Fig; 2 is a verticalsectionon line 2 2ot' Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a lamp. Fig. 4 is acrosssection on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail showing thearrangement of the driving-wheels, and Fig. 6 is a diagram showing theconnections.

My invention relates to electric lamps and particularly to that classcommonly known as arc lamps.

The objects of my invention are to provide new and improved mechanismfor operating the upper carbon-rod for the purpose of maintaining aconstant arc, and to provide improved means for maintaining a constantresistance throughout the entire circuit. I accomplish these objects asillustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter specilied.

That which I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, 7 and S indicate side pieces or guides of a lamp framewhich support the different parts ot the lamp.

9 indicates a circular plate supported by the rods 7 and S', which plateis adapted to support the feed mechanism.

l0 indicates a second plate attached to the side pieces 7 and 8 abovethe plate 9 and form a cover for the feed mechanism and to it areattached the rods 7 and S.

ll indicates a tube which rises from the plate lO, and supports theresistance coils 12 and 13, substantially as described in my formerapplication, Serial No. 455,473, dated December I7, 1892.

14 indicates a cover for the resistance coils l2 and 13.

15 indicates the upper carbon-rod which passes centrally through theplates 9 and 10 and into tube ll. The carbon-rod 15 is provided with arack 16, the object of which will be hereinafter set forth.

17 indicates the upper carbon which is secured to the lower end of therod l5.

1S indicates the lower carbon, which is supported by a cross-piece 19,which connects the lower ends of the side pieces 7 and 8 in the usualmanner.

2O indicates an electro magnet having a core 2l, which magnet is securedto and depends from the frame 24, as best shown in Figs. l and 2.

22 indicates alow resistance solenoid, which is secured to and dependsfrom the frame 24 at the opposite side of the lamp from that at whichthe magnet 2O is placed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The magnet 2O and solenoid 22 are both in the main circuit of the lamp,asbest shown in Fig. G.

23 indicates a second solenoid, which is supported by the frame 24 whichis carried by the plate 9 and insulated therefro1n,which solenoid islocated under and in line with the solenoid 22, as best shown in Fig. 2.

The solenoid 23 is of high resistance and is on a shunt wire, as will behereinafter more fully described.

25 indicates a rod which serves as a core for the solenoids 22 and 23,the ends of the rod 25 extending into said solenoids, as shown in Fig.2.

26 and 27 indicate pins which limit the distance to which the core 25may be moved into either of the solenoids.

The pins 26 and 27 are placed somewhat nearer together than thesolenoids 22 and 23, whereby a slight vertical motion of the core willbe permitted.

2S indicates a U-shaped frame which is pivotally mounted betweenstandards 29 and 30 of the frame 24, as best shown in Figs. l and 4.

The U-shaped frame 2S is provided with a boss 3l arranged opposite andclose to the core 2l of the magnet 20, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby saidboss will be readily attracted by said core when the magnet 2O isactive.

32 indicates a post which rises from the frame 24 immediately under theboss 31, which post serves to support the U-shaped trame 2S in aslightly inclined position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The arrangement of the U-shaped frame 28 is such that when the boss 31is attracted ICC by the magnet 20, it will be raised to a substantiallyhorizontal position. Asbest shown in Fig. 2, the central portion of theboss 31, which said central portion is of brass, projects slightly abovethe remaining portion.

By this arrangement when the current is broken and the solenoid 2Othereby demagnetized, the boss 3 1 will immediately fall to its normalposition.

32 indicates a spring which is supported by the post 32, and projectsupward slightly above the boss 31 over which it projects a shortdistance. The arrangement is such that when the boss 31 is brought intocontact with the core 21, it will be moved into contact with the spring33. The spring 33 is insulated from the post 32, and is connectedy by awire 34 to the coil of the solenoid 23. The other end of the solenoid isconnected to the negative pole of the lamp. By this means, when the boss31 is out of contact with the core 21, the solenoid 23 will be cut out.

35 indicates a shaft pivoted in the frame 28, as best shown in Fig. 4,at some suitable point between the pivot of the frame and the boss 31.

36 indicates a pinion mounted so as to rotate upon the shaft 35, bothends of said pinion being reduced to an exten-t equal to the depth ofthe cogs on said pinion.

37 indicatesa ratchet-wheel which is mounted upon one of the reducedends of the pinion 36, and is keyed thereto a sutlicient distance fromthe shoulder ot' said pinion to allow to rotate the wheel 38.

38 indicates a gear-wheel which is loosely mounted upon the pinion 36between the ratchet-wheel 37 and the shoulder of the pinion 36.

The gear wheel 38 carries a pawl 39, which is held in engagement withthe teeth ot'v the ratchet-wheel 37 by a spring 40. The pinion 36intermeshes with the teeth of the rack 16, whereby the pinion 36 andratchet-wheel 37 will be rotated by vertically moving the carbon-rod 15.The arrangement of the ratchet` wheel 37 and gear wheel 38 is such thatwhen the carbon-rod 15 is moved downward, the

'pawl 39 will engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel 37 and cause therotation of the gearwheel 38.

, 41 and 42 indicate bars pivotally mounted upon the shaft 35 at itsopposite ends, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The bars 41 and 42 are connected to the opposite sides of the core 25 bythe rod 43 which passes through said core. These rods are secured to thebars 41 and 42 by set-screws 45.

46 indicates a shaft mounted between the bars 41 and 42, which shaftcarries a pinion 47 which intermeshes with the gear 38 and a scape-wheel48.

49 indicates a plate mounted upon the rod 43 adjacent to the scape-wheel48, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The plate 49 is provided with pins 50 and 51, which are adapted toengage the teeth of the scape-wheel 48, serving as pallets. Byoscillating the plate 49 the pins 50 and 51 will alternately engage theteeth of the scapewheel, thereby permitting it to rotate in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, moving the space of only onetooth at each oscillation of the plate 49. The upper portion of theplate 49 terminates near the solenoid 22, and is provided with notches52, as best shown in Fig. 2.

53 indicates a dog which depends from the solenoid 22, and is adapted toenter the notches 52 as the plate 49 is moved upward, and to bewithdrawn from said notches when the said plate is moved downward. Asthe rod 43 which supports the plate 49 is connected to the core 25, thevertical movement ofthe plate 49 will be determined bythat of the core25.

54 indicates a fixed bar of some suitable conducting material which issupported by the standard 29, and is insulated therefrom, and extends toa point near the core 21, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 55 indicates aspringbar, which is also snpported by the standard 29, and extendsbetween the core 21 and the bar 54.

The bar 55 is normally in contact with the bar 54, but when the core 21is rnagnetized, it is attracted thereby and held in contact therewith.

The bar 54 is connected by a wire 56 with a contact-plate 57, as bestshown in Fig. 6.

58 indicates a second contact-plate connected by a wire 59 to the lowercarbon 18.

IOC

60 indicates a third contact-plate, which is connected by a wire 61 tothe binding-post 62.

63 indicates a wire by which one end of the coil of the solenoid 2O isconnected to the binding-post 62. The other end of the coil of thesolenoid 20 is connected tothe coil of the solenoid 22, the other end ofthe coil of the solenoid 22 being connected to abindingpost 64. p 65indicates the out-going line wire, which is also connected to'thebinding-post 64.

The contact-plates 57, 58 and 60 are inline With each other, as bestshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

66 indicates a switch. having a handle 67, which is pivoted to thebinding-post 58.

The switch 66 is provided with arms 68 and 69 arranged at an angle toeach other, as best shown in Fig. 6, the arm 68 being adapted to connectthe plates 58 and 6U, and the arm 69 being adapted to connect thecontact-plates 57 and 58, the angle of the arms 68 and 69 being suchthat when the arm 68 is in contact with the plate 60, the arm 69 will beout of contact with the piate 57, and vice versa.

70 indicates the incoming line wirewhich is connected to thebinding-post 71.

IIO

IZO

72 indicates a wire which connects the resistance coil 12 with thebinding-post 71.

73 indicates a wire which connects the opposite end of the resistancecoil 12 with the binding-post 74.

75 indicates a wire which connects the plate 24 with the binding-post74.

76 indicates a copper spring which connects the standards 29 and 30, andbears against the carbon-rod 15, thereby closing the circuit between theframe 24 and the carbon-rod 15.

As has been stated, one end of the shunt solenoid 23 is connected by awire 34 and spring 33 to the boss 3l. The other end of the solenoid 23is connected by a wire 77 to the binding-post 64.

73 indicates a wire connecting the contactplate 57 to the resistancecoil 13.

'79 indicates a wire connecting the resistance coil 13 to thebinding-post 64. The resistance of the coil 13 is equal to that of thearc of the lamp, and its object is to provide for maintaining a constantresistance in the main circuit, whether the arc is established in thelamp or not, the resistance coil being automatically cut in by thespring bar 55 coming in contact with the bar 54 when the lamp goes out,as described in my former application above referred to.

The operation of my improved lamp is as follows: rIhe switch G7 being inthe position shown in Fig. 6, the current passes in on the wire 70,thence through the resistance coil 12 and the frame 24 tothe carbon-rod15; thence through the carbons and wire 59 to the contact-plate 58,through the arm 63 of the switch 6G to the contact-plate 60; thencethrough the magnet 2O and solenoid 22 to the wireline 65. As the currentpasses through the magnet 20, the core 21 will be niagnetized and willattract the boss 31, which will move upwardinto contact with the core21, and will also come into contact with the spring 33, closing thecircuit through the shunt solenoid 23. The boss 3l will remain incontact with the core 21 and spring 33 as long as the current isunbroken, however much it may vary in intensity. As the boss 31 movesupward, the pinion 3G being in mesh with the teeth of the rack 16, thecarbon-rod 15 will be slightly raised, separating the carbons andestablishing the arc. By this time the core 25 will be at its highestposition, owing to the attraction of the solenoid 22, and the plate 49will be held in its uppermost position. The dog 53 will be held in oneof the notches 52, thereby preventing the oscillation of the plate 49,and, consequently, preventing the rotation of the scape-wheel 4S andindependent vertical movement of the carbon-rod 15. As the carbons areconsumed and the resistance is thereby increased, a greater proportionof the current will pass through the shunt solenoid 23, increasing itsmagnetism to such an extent that it will move the core 25 downward,throwing the dog 53 out of its notch 52, and permitting the oscillationof the plate 49. The weight of the carbon and carbon-rod will then causethem to drop. This will causea rotation of the gear-wheel 33 in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and a rotation of thescape-wheel 43 in an opposite direction. The rotation of the scape-wheel48 will be controlled by the pins 50 and 51. As soon as the resistanceis diminished by the downward movement of the carbon-rod, the greaterportion of the current will pass through the upper solenoid 22,increasing its power and causing the core 25 to move upward sufficientlyto permit the dog 53 to enter one of the notches 52, and thereby preventfurther oscillation of the plate 49, and consequently preventing furtherrotation of the scape-wheel 48. The downward movement of carbon-rod 15will thereby be arrested. As soon as the current passes through themagnet 20, the bar 55 will be attracted by the core 2l, and theresistance coil 13 will be cut out as above described. It the voltagevaries or the current is not constant and the carbons are allowed tocome together by reason of low voltage or insufficient current, and thenthe Voltage or current should be suddenly increased, the notches 52 inthe plate 49 will allow of sufficient play in the plate 49, after itsoscillation has been arrested by contact with the dog 53, to raise thecarbon-rod 15 a sutlicient distance to form an arc, but not enough tocause pumping as known in the art. By this arrangement the feed of thelamp is made very sensitive, pumping being impossible and thusdispensing with the usual dashpot or other retarding mechanism. Shouldthe circuit through the lamp be broken, the magnet 2O will bedemagnetized and the bar 55 will spring into contact with the bar 54,thereby closing the circuit through the resistance coil 13. A constantresistance will thus be maintained. If it is desired to cutout themagnet 2O and solenoid 22, it may be accomplished by turning the switch6G to throw the arm 69 into contact with the contact-plate 57, wherebythe current will be caused to pass through the resistance coil 13.

iVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In an electric lamp, the combination with an upper carbon-rod, anouterpivoted frame, an inner pivoted frame, and a feeding train carriedthereby, of a shunt solenoid, a core therefor', said core beingconnected to said inner frame, devices operated by the vertical movementof said core to effect the feeding of the carbon, an electro magnetinthe main circuit adapted to attract and tilt said outer frame for thepurpose of establishing the arc, and a cut-out for said shunt solenoid,said cutout being adapted to be engaged by said outer frame when it istilted by the magnet in the main circuit, so that said shunt solenoidwill be cut into circuit upon the establishment of the arc,substantially as described.

2. 1n an electric lamp, the combination with an upper carbon rod, anouter pivoted frame, an inner pivoted frame, and a feeding train carriedthereby, of upper and lower main and shunt solenoids, a core therefor,said core be'- IOS ing connected to said inner frame, devices operatedby the vertical' movement of said core to eiect the feeding of thecarbon, an electromagnet in the main ci-rcuitadapted to attract and tiltsaid outer frame for the purpose of establishing the arc, and a cutou-ty for said shunt solenoid, said c ut out being adapted to be engagedby said outer frame when it is: tilted by said magnet in the maincircuit so` that said shunt solenoid will be cut into c ircuit upon theestablishment of the are, substantially as described. A

3. In an electric lamp, the combi-nation withl supporting devices and apinion carried thereby, of a carbon-rod having-a rack intermeshg anupper carbonl rod, a pivoted frame, and a g feeding train carriedthereby, of upper land lower, main and shunt, solenoids, a coretherefor, said core beingconnected to said frame, a i rocking plate 49,said plate having notches at its upper end, a dog 53 adapted to. entersaid snotches, and pallets` --51 carried by said ,rock-ing plate,substantially as described.

ing with said pinion, main and shunt circuit solenoids located one abovethe other, a core for said solenoids, said core being verticallymovable-under the action of said solenoids, bars'41 and 42, a rod 43connecting said bars with said core, a rocking-platey 49 mounted uponsaid rod, notchesin one end of said rock'- ing-plate, a scape-.wheelpivotal-ly mounted between said bars, pallets 50 and 5l carried f anupper carbon rod, a pivoted frame, and a feeding train carried thereby,of a shunt solenoid, a core therefor, said core being conby said plate49, said scape-wheel being geared to saidv pinion, whereby the rotationof said scape-Wheel will permit the` rotation of said pinion to permitthe carbon-rod to descend, a dog 53 adapted to enter the notches- 52 toprevent the rocking of said plate 49, substantially as described.

4. In an electric lamp, the combination with supporting devices of aframe 28y pivotally f y,a resistance coil the resistance of which isequal tothat of the lamp whenburning, of an electro-magnet in the maincircuit, a bar 54 liconnected to the frame of thelamp and extending toapoint near the coreI of the said mounted thereon, said frame havingaboss 3l and a pinion 36 mounted in said frame, a carbon-rod having arack intermeshing with said pinion, an electro4 magnet located over saidboss 3l and adapted toattract the samewhen said magnet is active and tomove said frame into a horizontal position, an upper main circuitsolenoid, a shunt circuit solenoid' located under said main circuitsolenoid, acore 95` for said solenoids, bars 41 and 42, a rod 43connecting the outer ends of said bars, said rod 43 passing through thecore, 25, a plate 49 mounted upon said rod, said plate having notches inits upper end,a dog adapted to en# gage said notches when the coreis initsl up,- permost position, a scape-wheel geared to said pinion andpallets carried byV said plate 49 and adapted to engage the teeth ofthev said scape-wheel successively when the plate 49 is rocked,substantially as described.

5. In an electric lamp, the combination with a resistance coil, theresistance of which is equal to that of the lamp when burning, of anelectro magnet in the main circuit, a bar 54 connected to the frame ofthe; lamp and ex-` tending to a point near the core of the said 6omagnet and insulated from said frame, a

spring plate supported by the frame of the lamp and projecting betweensaid fixed plate fand the core of the said magnet and being normally incontact with said Iixed plate, said f spring plate being adapted to beattracted by and to move into contact with the core of said magnet whenthe current passes through said magnet, a wire connecting said fixedplate with said resistance coil, a wire adapted to conduct. the currenttothe frame of the lamp, upper and lower carbons, supporting devices, awire adapted to conduct the current from the lowercarbon supportingdevice to said magnet, substantially as described.

6. In an electric lamp, the combination-with 7. In an electric lamp, thecombination with nected to said frame, a rockingv plate 49, said platehaving notches at its upper end, a dog 53 adapted to enter said notches,pallets 50-51 carried by-said rocking plate, and means for raising saidcore, substantiallyas described.

8. In an electric lamp, the combination with magnet and insulated fromsaid frame, a spring plate supported by the frame of the lamp andprojecting` between said fixed plate `and the core of` the said magnetand being normally in contact with said fixed plate,.said fspringplatebeing adapted tobe attracted byv and to move` into contact with the coreof said mag-net when the; current passes through said magnet, awireconnecting said fixed plate with said resistance coil, a Wire adapted toi conduct the current to the frame of the lamp, f upper and lowercarbons,.supporting devices,

a wire adapted to conduct the current from, the lower carbon supportingdevice to said magnet and a hand operated switch for cutting out saidmagnet and throwing-in said relsistance and vice versa, substantially asdescribed.

JOHN A. MOSHER. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. JACKSON, E. M. MCKINNEY.

ICO

IIO

